Electric steam radiator



Oct. 6, 1925. 1,556,491

A. CLARK ELECTRIC '5 TEAM RADIATOR Filed June 2, 1924 i f ilgi ii LIA ii ii nu In H m 5 N/an Clark 5 Patented Oct. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES ALLAN CLARK, F SEATTLE, WASHINGTUN.

ELECTRIC STEAM RADIATGR.

Application filed June 2, 1924.

of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Steam Radiators, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention has for its particular object the provision of a radiator which is compact, which is convenient for filling, for attention to the heating element and like matters, which is of pleasing design and preferably but little different from ordinary radiators, which may be. portable, and particularly which is so constructed and insulated that it will heat up quickly.

My invention comprises those novel parts and combinations thereof which are shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the specification and particularly defined by the claims terminating the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in the form which is now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a complete radiator constructed according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the lower portion of the radiator.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the lower portion at one end of the radiator.

The radiator is preferably made 11 a in, a style which is similar to ordinary radiators, employing end sections 1 and 11, between which are the intermediate sections 10. All of these sections are formed with a lower portion forming a steam boiler 12. This boiler, it will be understood, is formed, when the sections 1, and 11 are all connected, as a space extending longitudinally through the bottom part of the radiator. This is conveniently filled through a filling opening 13, and the radiator may be provided with such devices as a safety valve 1 1 and the like, all of which are common in radiators.

Within the boiler 12 is inserted a heating element 2 of suitable form. As shown this comprises a coil of resistance wire wound about a refractory spool 21 and connected by leads 22 to a suitable current source. This heating element 2 is directly supported within a tube which in turn is supported and extends through the boiler 12, extending preferably from end to end of the ra- Serial No. 221K214.

' diator. It will be noted in this respect, that the tube 20, which is preferably of thin, heat-conducting material, is placed near the bottom 16 of the boiler section 12, in this manner forming a thin sheath of water beneath it relative to the amount at the sides and above the tube. The thin sheath of water beneath it, being normally not so readily heated because of its position, will, by reason of its thinness be the more readily heated.

As such radiators will ordinarily be employed in households where it will be necessary that the housewife attend to them, and in order that such attention as they may require from time to time may be supplied without the necessity of employing tools, I have provided the supporting means for the heating element, which I will now describe.

The tube 2 is'brazed or otherwise fitted into an aperture in a bushing 3, this bushing being threaded into the end section 1 of the radiator. This bushing may be of cast material for cheapness of manufacture. A cap 32 is removably connected to this bushin 3, as by means of bayonet lugs 33 msertablethrough transverse slots 31 in an inwardly directed flange 3% of the bushing 3 (Fig. 3). This forms a chamber within the cap 32 and bushing 3, for accommodation of the terminals of the heating element and for the lead wires 22, these lead wires'passing through a suitable aperture in the. cap 32.

It wiil be noted in Figure 2 that the intermediate sections 10, while of the same general shape as the end sections 1 and 11, have not the legs 17 such as are formed on the end sections, but are cutaway to form a downwardly facing shoulder 15 at each side of the boiler portion 12. This reduces the diameter of the boiler portion to less than the "width of the radiator columns and permits the employment of an insulating casing about the bottom portion 16 of the boiler. Such insulation is conveniently held in place by a metal sheath 5 and this sheath 5 preferably comes flush with the outward extension or" the sides of the radiator columns. Y

To hold the radiator together I may employ three tie rods which are anchored in the end sections 1 and 11. Two of these tie rods 4 are positioned just beneath the shoulders 15 of the intermediate sections 10 and pass through the legs 17 of the end sections 1 and 11. The upper tie rod 40,

till

as iscommon, extends through the upper portion of all of the radiator sections or otherwise connects them at the top. By positioning the tie rods 4 beneath the shoulders 15 they are thus employed in a dual capacity; primarily to tie together the lower portion of the radiator, and secondarily to support the insulation 50. This latter purpose is accomplished by curling over the edges of the metal sheath 5 and passing the tie rods 4 through the beads 51 thus formed. In this manner the insulation is made to closely embrace all portions ,of the bottom 16 of the boiler to protect it from drafts, from convection currents or from other influences tending to chill the boiler and the entire heat of the element 2 is thus available to heat the water which surrounds it, for it will be understood that the heat energy is most readily available to heat the room when delivered to the columns of the radiator as steam, and for that reason it is desirable to prevent the boiler from being chilled during the proof ess of heating the water.

The entire radiator-may be made port able by supporting the legs 17 upon casters 18, if desired, thus making it possible to move the radiator from place to place as its heat is required. It is sightly, and by the employment of the sheathing 5 placed as described, the heat is supplied quickly and efficiently and the hottest portion is protected so that it may notbe touched by children playing upon the floor. Further, the lower portion of the radiator is given a trim and pleasing appearance which is highly desirable as an aid in selling the radiator, for it has been found from experience that however meritorious such a heater or radiator may be, it is not possible to place it in homes where it is conspicuous because of its odd or grotesque appearance.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. A radiator comprising two terminal sections and intermediate sections therebetween, the lower portions of said sections communicating to form a boiler, means in said boiler for heating water contained therein, a pair of tie rods connecting said terminal sections and extending at opposite sides of the boiler portions of the intermediate sections, and heat insulation extending about said boiler and supported from said tie rods.

2. A radiator comprising two end secdownward below the boiler, a tie rod ing through said legs at each side 0 the tions and intermediate sections therebetween, the lower portions of said sections communicatin to form a boiler, means in said boiler or heating water contained therein, said intermediate sections,above the bottom of the boiler, havin downwardly directed shoulders at each side, a tie rod connecting both said end sections and extending immediately beneath the shoulders at each side of the intermediate sections, and heat insulation extending beneath. said boiler and supported from said tie rods.

3. In a radiator comprising two end sections and intermediate sections therebetween, the lower portions of said sections being reduced in width to form downwardly facing shoulders at each side, and being connected to form a boiler, the end sections having legs at each side extending assboiler and connecting said sections, and lying immediately beneath said shoulders, a metal sheath having a bead at each edge and extending beneath said boiler, said tie -rods passing through said beads to support said sheath, and heat insulating material interposed between said sheath and the boiler.

I in the end of said bushing.

5. In an electric steam'radiator, a plurality of connected sections having their lower portions communicating to form a boiler, a bushing permanently secured in an end section, a tube of heat-conducting material secured in said bushing and extending through the boiler, an electric heating element supported insaid tube, an inwardly directed flange at the outer end of said bushing, said flange having a plurality of transverse slots therein, an a ertured cap having fingers engageable with said flange 'by passing through said slots, thereby to be removably held in place in said bushing, and lead wires from said heating element passing through the aperture in said cap.

Signed at Seattle, King County, Washington, this 10th day of May 1924.

' ALLAN CLARK. 

